Meaning
To mispronounce words or speak unclearly.
Cultural Background
Brazilians are generally very expressive. Using this phrase is a way to show you are human and not taking yourself too seriously. While understood, 'enrolar a língua' is more common in European Portuguese. Similar to Brazil, the phrase is used in informal settings to describe speech errors. Used in urban, informal contexts among friends.
Don't panic
If you embolar a fala, just smile. It makes you sound more like a native speaker who is comfortable with their own mistakes.
Use it to save face
If you make a mistake, say 'Desculpe, embolou a fala' immediately. It's the perfect way to move on.
Meaning
To mispronounce words or speak unclearly.
Don't panic
If you embolar a fala, just smile. It makes you sound more like a native speaker who is comfortable with their own mistakes.
Use it to save face
If you make a mistake, say 'Desculpe, embolou a fala' immediately. It's the perfect way to move on.
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the idiom.
Eu estava tão nervoso que acabei ___________.
The gerund 'embolando' is required after 'acabei'.
Which situation is appropriate for using 'embolar a fala'?
When is it appropriate to use this phrase?
It is an informal idiom for temporary speech issues.
Match the idiom with its meaning.
Match the phrase to the correct definition.
The idiom specifically refers to unclear speech.
🎉 Score: /3
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
3 exercisesEu estava tão nervoso que acabei ___________.
The gerund 'embolando' is required after 'acabei'.
When is it appropriate to use this phrase?
It is an informal idiom for temporary speech issues.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
The idiom specifically refers to unclear speech.
🎉 Score: /3
Frequently Asked Questions
3 questionsNo, as long as you don't use it to describe someone with a medical speech condition.
No, it is too informal. Use 'me equivoquei' instead.
No. 'Gaguejar' is a stutter; 'embolar' is a temporary mistake.
Related Phrases
Enrolar a língua
synonymTo roll the tongue
Tropeçar nas palavras
similarTo trip over words
Falar pelos cotovelos
contrastTo talk a lot
Gaguejar
specialized formTo stutter
